Window box planter

ABSTRACT

A window box planter is fabricated from sheet-like strips of metal and extruded rail members which may be cut to length at the job site, and which are secured together with a minimum of fasteners. Cast metal end panels are secured to the extruded rail members which are also provided with integral channels for receiving end panels and the strips of metal that define the wall surfaces of the planter. The aforementioned abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Kleine [111 3,800,470 [4 1 Apr. 2, 1974 WINDOW BOX PLANTER [76] Inventor: Eugene T. Kleine, 89 Ocean Ave.,

Massapequa, N.Y. 11758 [22] Filed: Aug. 14, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 280,578

[52] US. Cl 47/36, 47/40, 220/84 [51] Int. Cl. A01g 9/02 [58] Field of Search 47/36, 40; 220/83, 84

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,150,903 9/1964 Chapman et al 220/84 X 1,956,389 4/1934 Kintz .1 47/36 812,806 2/1906 Bixler 47/36 126,857 5/1872 Whittemore... 47/36 3,228,736 l/l966 Beckerman 220/84 X 3,148,479 9/1964 DAmato 47/40 3,456,829 7/1969 Glassmeyer 220/84 X Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Pellegrino Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Leonard H. King [57] ABSTRACT A window box planter is fabricated from sheet-like strips of metal and extruded rail members which may be cut to length at the job site, and which are secured together with a minimum of fasteners. Cast metal end panels are secured to the extruded rail members which are also provided with integral channels for receiving end panels and the strips of metal that define the wall surfaces of the planter.

The aforementioned abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDAPR 21914 SHHQI 3 [IF 3 FIG. 6

FIG. H

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to planters or the like and more particularly to an improved window box.

2. Description of the Prior Art Window box planters are frequently secured to the exterior walls of dwellings for aesthetic reasons. More often than not the window box planters are fabricated in advance taking into account the dimensions of the windows adjacent to which they are located. Most commonly, the window boxes are made of wood that are subject todeterioration by the elements and which require frequent repainting in order to maintain a satisfactory condition. Even with continued maintenance or with preventive maintenance wooden window boxes in the prior art are readily subjected to warpage due to changes in the weather.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an all metallic window box that is fabricated from extruded rail members, preferably aluminum and sheets of material, preferably aluminium that are received in appropriate channels formed integrally with the extruded rail members. The present invention may be fabricated at the site thus obviating the need for the manufacturer to make two separate trips, one. for measurements and the other for installation. The present invention is particularly adaptable to fab'rication'from the same material that is used for aluminium sidings,and thus lends itself as an economically feasible. adjunct to the aluminium siding contract. Precast end panels are. used with the extruded aluminium rails in order to provide the rigid, box-like frame work for the planter of the. present invention. Fastener means are. used to secure the end panels to the end of the extruded rails and sheets of metal, which may be of a same or of .a contrasting color are readily inserted into integral channels formed with the extruded rail members. As will be brought out hereinafter, no specialjtools or skills are required to eithermanufacture, assemble or installthe. present invention so that the planter may be fabricatedata relatively low cost.

Accordingly it is an object of thepresent invention to providean improvedwindow box planter.

It" is another objectof the present invention to provide, an improved window box planter, as described above, that'may be, readily fabricatedat the building.

site.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved window box planter, as described above, that requires-a minimum of tools and special skills for fabrication assembly or installation purposes.

Afurther object of thepresent invention is to provide an improved window boxplanter, as described above,

that is particularly adaptable for usewith the sheet additional paint for purposes of maintenance, which may have additionally vcolored. panels readily interchanged and which also provides a feeling of depth as regards the planar surfaces thereof.

These and other objects, features and advantages of v the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity, and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention,

- taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,

which forms an integral part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the various figures of the drawing, like reference characters designate like parts. Inthe drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the window box planter comprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the window box planter comprising the present invention and which is shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the window box planter comprising the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, rear elevational view of the window box planter shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, bottom plan view of the window box planter comprising the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a transverse, elevational view in cross section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;.

FIG. 7 is a transverse, sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 1 illustrating the stiffening means comprising the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 3 illustrating the cast end panel of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevational view taken along line 9- 9 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevational view on an enlarged scale taken along line 10-10 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the window box planter comprising the present invention as installed on the wall of a building.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 11 there is shown, fragmentarily, the wall of a house H having a window W therein. A window box planter, generally designated by the reference character 20, is secured to the wall beneath the window W by means of fasteners such as screws 22.

Turning now to FIG. 2-6', it will be seen that the window box planter 20 is comprised of front extruded aluminum channels 24 and26 at the top and bottom thereof, respectively. The window box planter 20 is further comprised of rear extruded aluminium channels 28 and 30 at the top and bottom thereof, respectively, as well as two cast mirror image aluminium end panels 32, only one of which is shown. The window box planter 20 is further comprised of strips of aluminium sheet 34, 36, and 38'that close and define the front,

bottom and rear wall surfaces respectively, as well as sheets 40 that close the endpanels 32. In order to provide rigidity, extruded aluminium, stiffening means 42- (FIG. 1), 44 (FIG. 2), 46 (FIG. 5) and 48 (FIG. 6) are provided. The total, box-like effect of the stiffening .means 42, 44, 46 and 48 may best be seen in FIG. 6.

In addition to the foregoing, upper and lower scalloped aluminium sheets 50 and 52, respectively, are provided on the front wall of the window box planter 20. Preferably the scalloped panels 50 and 52 are made of a color that is in constrast to the front, sheet metal panel 34. It is further preferred that the scalloped panels 50 and 52 be of the same color as the upper and lower extruded rails 24 and 26 so as to blend and to give the illusion of being integral therewith.

The transverse configuration of the extruded rail members 24, 26, 28 and 30 will now be described with reference particularly to FIG. 10. It will be noted that while each of the extruded rail members 24, 26, 28 and 30 are slightly different, they each contain the same basic elements so that only one, namely extruded rail member 24 need be descrived. The extruded rail member 24 is comprised of a first pair of spaced apart legs 54 and 56 that defines a channel 58 therebetween for receiving one of the stiffening means such as shown by reference character 42. There is further provided a second pair of spaced apart legs 60 and 62 that define a second channel 64 therebetween for receiving an adjacent stiffening means such as shown by reference character 44. The scalloped panels 50 are captured between the leg 60 and the stiffening means for example 44, directly therebehind. The scalloped panel 50 may be secured in place by any suitable means such as adhesive (not shown). In order to accurately locate the inner portion of the scalloped panel 50 a protrusion 56 is formed thereon that abuts the lower end of the leg 60 as shown best in FIG. 10. Still another leg 68 is formed integrally with the rail 24, rearwardly of and spaced from the leg 62 so as to receive the metallic panel 34. Preferably a spacer 70 is positioned between the legs 62 and 68 as shown in FIG. 10. Finally, the rail 24 is provided with a tubular channel 72 the ends of which are internally threaded in order to receive screw 74 that secures the end panels 32 to the longitudinally extending rails 24, 26, 28 and 30. As mentioned hereinabove all of the four extruded rails 24, 26, 28 and 30 are essentially and basically the same so that the description given with regard to FIG. will be applicable to all of the four rail members. However, extruded rail member 28 is slightly different to the extent that it includes an upwardly extending leg 75 (FIG. 6) that is provided with a plurality of openings 76 (FIG. 2) for receiving the screws 22 that secure the window box planter to the wall of the house H.

As shown typically is FIG. 7, the stiffening means 42, 44, 46 and 48 are each comprised of a first wall 78, second and third walls 80 and 82 at right angles the first wall 78 and fourth and fifth shortened walls 84 and 86 which are at right angles to the walls 80 and 82. A tubular channel 88 is formed integrally with the wall 78 and is positioned intermediate the walls 80 and 82. Screws 90 (FIG. 6) may be used to secure the stiffening means 42, 44, 46 and 48 to their respective extruded rail members 24, 26, 28 and 30.

The end panels 32 are preferably made of cast aluminium and include a side wall 92 having a free-form opening 94 therein so that the sheet metal panel 40 is visible. For aesthetic reasons a skirt 96 having additional free-form openings 98 therein is provided. Additionally the end panels 32 are provided with a front lip. Suitable openings are formed in the end panel 32 to accommodate the screws 74. On the inside surface of the end panels 32 there are provided upper and lower elongated ribs 102 and 104, respectively, which are cast integrally with the inner surface of the end panels 32. In addition locating bosses 106, 108, l 10 and 112 are also cast integrally with the inner surface of the end panels 32. In the assembled condition the ribs and the bosses 106 and 108 are contained within the channel 58 defined between the legs 54 and 56 and the locating bosses 110 is positioned within the channel 64 defined between the legs 60 and 62. At the lower end of each end panel 32 the rib 104 is similarly located in the channel 58 defined between the legs 54 and 56 while the locating boss 1 12 is positioned in the lower channel 64 defined between the legs 60 and 62. Thus, the rigid box-like configuration of the present invention is enhanced.

In order to assemble the present invention the four stiffening means 42, 44, 46 and 48 are secured as described above, to the longitudinally extending rails 24, 26, 28 and 30. One of the end panels 32 is then secured as described above. The front sheet metal panel 34 is slid into place as shown by the arrows A in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom, sheet metal panel 36 is slid into place as shown by the arrows B in FIG. 2 and the rear, sheet metal end panels 40 are merely located by the integral bosses and ribs on the inside surface of the east end panels 32 and sheet metal panel 38 is slid into place as shown by the arrows C in FIG. 4.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that an improved low-cost and easily assembled window box planter has been provided. The window box planter is inherently rigid and because of its metallic construction is virtually maintenance free. Various surface finishes may be more or less permanently applied so as to minimize future maintenance thereof. The frame of the window box planter comprising the present invention is comprised of extruded aluminium rail members and the end panels are cast aluminium. Sheets of metal which are either contrasting or complimentary colors may be slid easily into place or interchanged utilizing integral channels formed in the extruded rail members. The sheet metal panels are displaced rearwardly from the outer planes of the window box planter to provide an illusion of depth. No special tools or skills are required to manufacture, assemble or install the present window box planter which may be readily made up on the building site thus obviating the need for two different trips to be made by the contractor, one to take measurements and the other to complete the installation. Extruded stiffening means are also provided to enhance the rigidity and to provide the present invention with box-like strength characteristics.

There has been disclosed herebefore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated. However it is to be understood that the various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An improved window box planter adapted to be attached to the wall of a building, said planter comprismg:

a. two pairs of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extending rails, one of said pair of rails being positioned above said other pair of rails for defining the upper, lower, forward and rearward corner edges of said planter, each of said rails including first, second and third channels therein;

b. a pair of plates secured to the ends of said rails;

c. a plurality of elongated stiffening means extending between and secured to adjacent ones of said rails,

the ends of said stiffening means being located in said first and second channels;

d. first sheet means mounted in said rails in said third channel for defining front, back and bottom wall surfaces of said planter; and

e. second sheet means mounted in said second channels of said upper and lower, forward corner edge rails, said second sheet means being positioned in a plane spaced outwardly from said first sheet means that is located in said upper and lower forward corner edge rail thereby creating an illusion of depth.

2. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rails, said plates and said stiffening means are rigid for defining a structure having box-like strength characteristics.

3. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stiffening means are positioned transversely with respect to said rails.

4. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plates include locating means on the inside surface thereof, said locating means being positioned in at least some of said channels.

5. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said rails includes a tubular, internally threaded channel and there is further included threaded fastening means passing through said plates and engaged in said threaded channels for securing said plates.

6. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said rails includes an additional leg having openings therein for securing said planter to the wall of a building.

7. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stiffening means are comprised of a first wall, sec- 0nd and third walls contiguous with the ends of said first wall and perpendicular thereto and fourth and fifth walls contiguous with said second and third walls, respectively, said fourth and fifth walls being substantially parallel to and spaced from said first wall.

8. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sheet means comprises separate strips for at least the front and bottom walls of said planter. 

1. An improved window box planter adapted to be attached to the wall of a building, said planter comprising: a. two pairs of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extending rails, one of said pair of rails being positioned above said other pair of rails for defining the upper, lower, forward and rearward corner edges of said planter, each of said rails including first, second and third channels therein; b. a pair of plates secured to the ends of said rails; c. a plurality of elongated stiffening means extending between and secured to adjacent ones of said rails, the ends of said stiffening means being located in said first and second channels; d. first sheet means mounted in said rails in said third channel for defining front, back and bottom wall surfaces of said planter; and e. second sheet means mounted in said second channels of said upper and lower, forward corner edge rails, said second sheet means being positioned in a plane spaced outwardly from said first sheet means that is located in said upper and lower forward corner edge rail thereby creating an illusion of depth.
 2. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rails, said plates and said stiffening means are rigid for defining a structure having box-like strength characteristics.
 3. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stiffening means are positioned transversely with respect to said rails.
 4. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plates include locating means on the inside surface thereof, said locating means being positioned in at least some of said channels.
 5. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said rails includes a tubular, internally threaded channel and there is further included threaded fastening means passing through said plates and engaged in said threaded channels for securing said plates.
 6. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said rails includes an additional leg having openings therein for securing said planter to the wall of a building.
 7. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stiffening means are comprisEd of a first wall, second and third walls contiguous with the ends of said first wall and perpendicular thereto and fourth and fifth walls contiguous with said second and third walls, respectively, said fourth and fifth walls being substantially parallel to and spaced from said first wall.
 8. The planter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sheet means comprises separate strips for at least the front and bottom walls of said planter. 